Orthodontic appliance for herbst therapy and arch development

Abstract

An orthodontic appliance and kit adapted to provide Herbst therapy as well as arch development. The appliance includes mandibular and maxillary components to be attached to the teeth, each component having a threaded bore. For Herbst therapy, telescoping links are connected between the components with screws threadably received by the threaded bores and coupled to the links by a ball and socket joint. For arch development, expansion mechanisms are provided on the components.

I claim:  
     
       1. An orthodontic appliance to provide for Herbst therapy comprising: 
       a mandibular component including left and right buccal segments each including an arcuate foot adapted adhered to the teeth over the occlusal embrasure between the cuspid and first bicuspid, each foot including a threaded bore in the facial surface thereof;  
       a maxillary component including left and right bucco-occlusal segments each including a foot adapted which is adhered to the teeth over the occlusal embrasure proximate the first molar and extending to the buccal side of the teeth, each bucco-occlusal segment having on said buccal side a threaded bore;  
       screws threadably and removably disposed in said threaded bores, each screw including a ball head; and  
       telescoping rod and tube links having at the ends thereof sockets to receive said screw heads to pivotally mount the ends of the rod and tube links to couple the mandibular and maxillary components to reposition the mandible.  
     
     
       2. The appliance of  claim 1  wherein each of said links includes a rod having at one end one of said sockets and a tube slidably receiving said rod and including at its end another of said sockets. 
     
     
       3. The appliance of  claim 2  wherein each link further includes stop surfaces on said rod and tube to prevent disengagement of said rod from said tube. 
     
     
       4. The appliance of  claim 2  wherein each of said links includes an intermediate member slidably receiving at one end said rod and at the other end being slidably received into said tube. 
     
     
       5. The appliance of  claim 4  wherein each link further includes stop surfaces on said rod, member and tube to prevent disengagement of said rod from said member and said member from said tube. 
     
     
       6. The appliance of  claim 1  wherein each socket includes a recess to pivotally receive said screw head and a capture surface to retain said head in said recess. 
     
     
       7. The appliance of  claim 6  wherein said capture surface is a deformable tab. 
     
     
       8. The appliance of  claim 1  wherein each screw head is spherical and said socket includes a spherical recess to receive said head. 
     
     
       9. The appliance of  claim 8  wherein each socket includes an opening and each screw includes a surface exposed at said socket opening to mate with a tool for threading of said screw into a bore when said screw head is disposed in said recess.